Pendulum, In Silico

Pendulum make the kind of epic, thudding music that seems destined to soundtrack big-budget superhero flicks. The scope of their clattering drum'n'bass is immense. However, while they come over as obsessed with sonic futurism, they can't help but sound a little dated, regularly doffing their caps to 1990s electro-rockers Apollo 440. Despite this, tracks such as Showdown and Propane Nightmares, with its mariachi horns and pounding punk synths, are laudable attempts to appeal to both the rock and the rave crowds. And the band - Australian, but based in the UK - focus on lyrics in a way that distances them from more run-of-the-mill chart dance acts. The corralling finale, The Tempest, and the almost folky 9,000 Miles show that Pendulum have managed to imbue their medium with a rare emotion.